BLACKBURN Rovers' new defensive coach Nigel Winterburn has joined up with his new colleagues at their training camp in Germany.

Earlier this week the former Arsenal full back was brought in by Paul Ince to bolster his backroom staff with the intention of working with the players to improve them defensively both as a team and individually, a role that isn't often employed in English football.

"It is something I spoke with Paul about a few weeks ago and it has developed from there," said Winterburn.

"I think last season they had a decent defensive record but if I can just help improve that individually and collectively as a unit then we'll be going in the right direction.

"A defensive coach is something that isn't very common, especially within the Premier league. I don't know if people are a bit fearful of it, but there are goalkeeping coaches, some clubs use striking coaches, so for me it is just natural that you should work on the defensive side.

"I think maybe people might be a little bit fearful because they think with a defensive coach what style of football will they play? But it has nothing to do with that, you make yourselves solid defensively and then you can go and express yourselves going forward.

"It is something that I hope can work very well, if you defend correctly you can pick up a lot of points and I think it gives the rest of the team confidence.

"We've a good group of lads who did well last season and I just want to help them improve on that."

Winterburn, who was an interested spectator as Rovers began their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Macclesfield Town on Monday evening, expects the role to be just part-time, but he knows that in football that flexibility is the key.

"The plan is to do a couple of days a week, but you've got to be flexible, games change, you get busy periods like Christmas and Easter, so I'm going to have to be flexible.

"It may be once a week, twice, it could be three or four times some weeks, it just depends on how Paul wants to use me really.

"It is important that we get things right very quickly and with the players help I'm sure they will, they did a decent job last season and there is no reason why they can't build on that."

Ince and Winterburn were often on opposing sides during the 90s, but now on the same side, they share the same goals.

"We played in the same era, Paul at Manchester United, myself at Arsenal, we had many battles but now it is all about coming together for the sake of the team and Blackburn and helping to push them forward," added Winterburn.